BIRD & PET CLINIC OF
ROSEVILLE
3985 Foothills Blvd.; Roseville, Calif. 95747 phone (916) 773-6049 fax (916) 773-9278
Vaccinations - Allergic Reactions
With vaccination commonly recommended annually, most pet owners are accustomed to taking
their pets to the vet for "yearly shots." It seems such a commonplace part of routine pet care that
many people do not think about what is actually occurring within their pet's body. In fact,
immunization represents stimulation of the immune system, an inherently inflammatory process.
It is typical for some joint or muscle soreness to occur after vaccination, for lethargy to be
observed, or for a mild fever to occur for a day or two. These reactions are not serious and
generally go unnoticed. Pets may eat, drink, and exercise normally after vaccination if they want
to; it is the more serious allergic reactions that need to be distinguished from the above expected
phenomena.
Allergic Reactions
Allergic reactions are highly individual inflammatory responses against specific proteins entering
the body. These proteins can be pollens, dusts, foods, medications, or even vaccines.
An allergic reaction might include hives, facial swelling, or even nausea. More serious
reactions can include shock or sudden death (anaphylaxis).
The time frame after vaccination can be immediate (the Type I reaction) or anytime in the next
48 hours (the Type IV or delayed hypersensitivity reaction.)
What to do During the Reaction
If your pet is having a reaction more severe than just some general malaise or soreness, you
should let your veterinarian know right away. If it is after hours, it is prudent to consult the local
emergency clinic. Anti-inflammatory injections can be used to halt the inflammatory cascade
before it gets dangerously out of hand. Be sure you know who to call in case of problems after
your pet is vaccinated.
Vomiting may be a sign of an on-coming serious reaction, or could represent something as
mild as car sickness. If vomiting is observed, let your veterinarian know right away.
What to do in the Future for the Pet who has had Reactions
There are many steps that can be taken to prevent allergic vaccine reactions:

AVOID LEPTOSPIROSIS VACCINE
The leptospirosis portion of the DHLPP (distemper) vaccine for dogs has a reputation for
being the most likely portion to cause vaccine reactions. You can request that this portion
be left out of your dog's vaccine.

AVOID GIVING SEVERAL VACCINATIONS AT ONE TIME
Keep in mind that vaccines given within two weeks of each other can interfere with each
other. You do not want to separate vaccines by less than a two-week period, but
separating vaccines can mean your pet has less stimulation to deal with at one time.
Breaking up vaccines also helps determine which vaccine is the culprit.
Copyright 2002 - 2008 by the Veterinary Information Network, Inc. All rights reserved.
BIRD & PET CLINIC OF
ROSEVILLE
3985 Foothills Blvd.; Roseville, Calif. 95747 phone (916) 773-6049 fax (916) 773-9278

DO NOT HAVE YOUR PET VACCINATED AT A VACCINE CLINIC
Vaccination clinics are designed to provide streamlined service for healthy pets in need
of their regular immunizations. These clinics are generally not prepared for the individual
attention required by a pet who has a history of vaccination reaction. A pet with a vaccine
reaction history should receive some special attention in the form of observation in the
hospital and/or pre-treatment with anti-inflammatory medication.

BE SURE YOUR VETERINARIAN IS AWARE OF YOUR PET'S HISTORY OF
VACCINE REACTION
This sounds obvious but we have seen many people at vaccination clinics wait until after
the animal has been vaccinated before informing the veterinarian that the pet has a history
of reactions.

BE PREPARED TO PAY FOR EXTRA PRE-MEDICATIONS AND/OR
OBSERVATION IN THE HOSPITAL
Medications can be used to head off allergic reactions before they happen and with the
use of these medications it is possible that a reacting pet can be vaccinated normally. To
be safe, it is frequently recommended that the pet be observed for the day after
vaccination, despite the medication. Consult your veterinarian for a recommendation.
Vaccination reactions severe enough to produce shock are EXTREMELY rare and are a function
of an individual pet's immune response. Vaccination is an important part of responsible pet
ownership and should not be omitted without specific veterinary guidance.
Copyright 2002 - 2008 by the Veterinary Information Network, Inc. All rights reserved.